Base Build : Looking for some expert advice

ATParrington

Honorable
Sep 29, 2013
11
0
10,510
I've managed to find a build recommended by a respected member, I have ever so slightly tweaked it, adding my preferred operating system and removing un-needed peripherals. The problem is. although I have some experience in building and repairing computers I am practically blind when it comes to part picking. I'm capable of picking parts to suit my needs, but I lack the knowledge required to make a decent purchase. It would be very easy for me to buy something that seemed good online, but is notorious for burning out etc.

This brings me to my final point, this build is currently on about £540, I'm willing to stretch to £650 for this budget build. I would really love to here some recommendations and improvements on this build with my spare £110. Realistically I will use this build for gaming, but ideally would like an SSD. I am willing to cut costs on some pieces in order to make room for other prices. But would not like to go above £650.

http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/user/Atparrington/saved/qpTp99

CPU AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core £73.36
CPU Cooler Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing £24.86
Motherboard Gigabyte GA-970A-DS3P ATX AM3+ £47.94
Memory G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 £61.28
Storage Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM £37.14
Video Card XFX Radeon R9 270 2GB Double Dissipation £117.92
Case Cooler Master N300 ATX Mid Tower £31.00
Power Supply XFX 550W ATX12V / EPS12V £46.93
Optical Drive Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer £10.22
Operating System Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) £80.10
Case Fan Arctic Cooling Arctic F12 74.0 CFM 120mm £3.83
Arctic Cooling Arctic F12 74.0 CFM 120mm £3.83

I'm also unsure about the required fans, as these were already included.

Thanks very much in advance, this will be a great help.
 
Solution
Here is what I would go with, there is the SSD, a better motherboard which will happily overclock the processor, a more powerful GPU as well

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor (£73.36 @ Amazon UK)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler (£24.86 @ CCL Computers)
Motherboard: ASRock 990FX Extreme3 ATX AM3+/AM3 Motherboard (£74.98 @ More Computers)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory (£61.28 @ Ebuyer)
Storage: Crucial M500 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive (£51.35 @ Ebuyer)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB...

gamer1357

Reputable
Aug 6, 2014
735
0
5,360
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor (£96.40 @ Aria PC)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler (£24.86 @ CCL Computers)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-970A-DS3P ATX AM3+ Motherboard (£47.94 @ Aria PC)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory (£61.28 @ Ebuyer)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive (£37.14 @ Aria PC)
Video Card: XFX Radeon R9 280X 3GB Double Dissipation Video Card (£194.74 @ Scan.co.uk)
Case: Cooler Master N300 ATX Mid Tower Case (£31.00 @ Amazon UK)
Power Supply: XFX 750W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply (£58.99 @ Amazon UK)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer (£10.22 @ CCL Computers)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) (£80.10 @ Amazon UK)
Case Fan: Arctic Cooling Arctic F12 74.0 CFM 120mm Fan (£3.83 @ Aria PC)
Case Fan: Arctic Cooling Arctic F12 74.0 CFM 120mm Fan (£3.83 @ Aria PC)
Total: £650.33
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-08-31 01:21 BST+0100

$100 goes a long way. If you really want an SSD you can get a weaker gpu and put an ssd. Also im not sure how well the motherboard is at overclocking but since this is for gaming I would assume the main concern is the gpu.
 

Nuckles_56

Admirable
Here is what I would go with, there is the SSD, a better motherboard which will happily overclock the processor, a more powerful GPU as well

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor (£73.36 @ Amazon UK)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler (£24.86 @ CCL Computers)
Motherboard: ASRock 990FX Extreme3 ATX AM3+/AM3 Motherboard (£74.98 @ More Computers)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory (£61.28 @ Ebuyer)
Storage: Crucial M500 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive (£51.35 @ Ebuyer)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive (£37.14 @ Aria PC)
Video Card: XFX Radeon R9 280 3GB Double Dissipation Video Card (£151.54 @ Scan.co.uk)
Case: Cooler Master K280 ATX Mid Tower Case (£30.74 @ Amazon UK)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply (£46.93 @ CCL Computers)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer (£10.22 @ CCL Computers)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) (£80.10 @ Amazon UK)
Case Fan: Arctic Cooling Arctic F12 74.0 CFM 120mm Fan (£3.83 @ Aria PC)
Case Fan: Arctic Cooling Arctic F12 74.0 CFM 120mm Fan (£3.83 @ Aria PC)
Total: £650.16
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-08-31 01:28 BST+0100
 
Solution

ATParrington

Honorable
Sep 29, 2013
11
0
10,510
Both of these are excellent, thank you very much. I'm going to go with the second build, purely because it's slightly more rounded than the first recommended. I wouldn't want such a good cpu with a not as good motherboard. Thanks very much to you both though.